Mechanical compression systems for ensilage of fodder in the open air



April 3, 1956 A. G. FRlGlERl E'rAL 2,740,350 MECHANICAL COMPRESSION SYSTEMS FOR ENSILAGE 0F FODDER IN THE OPEN AIR Filed May 15, 1952 United States Patent MECHANICAL COMPRESSION SYSTEMS FOR ENSILAGE OF FODDER IN THE OPEN AIR Arrgoberto Gaetano Frigier and Ugo Luciano Frigieri, Modena, Italy Application May 15, 1952, Serial No. 287,938 Claims priority, application Italy May 1S, 1951 2 Claims. (Cl. 10U-68) The present invention relates to a device for fodder storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means facilitating automatically compressing fodder for carrying out ensilagc in the open air, i. e., without fixed installations.

The device according to the present invention permits the formation of silos without the help of peripheral posts and secures a great economy of labor over all the already known apparatus wherein the compression is obtained by beating or by means of weights operating by sectors.

The device accordingtothe present invention is based upon the application ot' an installation which substantially comprises two compression rollers diametrically opposed, actingto compress the fodder at the periphery of the heap, while a ser of other rollers carries out the compression inthe central Zone; said rollers being connected with a device having the shape of a 'share and adapted to pick up the fodder which would escape from the upper edge of the silo and to lead it again under the compression roller.

The invention will be more easily understood from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a schematic side view of a silo in the course of execution, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the apparatus as seen from the left-hand side of Fig. l illustrating a particular detail of the peripheral rollers and the plow-shaped device.

As appears from the drawing, the installation according to the present invention substantially comprises a pole A bearing at its upper end a ring 1, which is provided with a number of other rings to which wires or ropes la may be fastened; the other ends of said ropes or wires being fixed to the ground at rather distant points, in order to hold the pele A upright.

Besides ring 1 on pole A there is also mounted a ring member B made of a number of interchangeable elements held together by suitable connecting means such as links 2. rl`he construction of ring member B is not further detailed since it does not, in itself, form an essential part of the present invention.

Said ring member B is intended to determine the diameter of the silo, permitting the gathering and the compression of the fodder.

A transverse lattice girder 3-3a is mounted on pole A, said girder consisting of two parts the length of which can be varied in order to obtain silos of different diameters and therefore of different capacity. A supporting lattice work 5 is fixed by means of brackets 6 to the girder 3 30, being free to accomplish longitudinal displacements along said girder.

A conical roller 7 is mounted at the lower end of the support 5, being operated by a suitable engine, preferably an internal combustion engine or an electric motor 7a.

The motor 7a is also supported by the lattice Work 5 and motion is transmitted through a speed reducer 8 to `ice a set of toothed wheels 9, the last of which controls the compression roller 7.

A lifting device 10 acting on the ring member B is mounted in a cantilever manner exteriorly of the support 5, such device consisting of a bracket bearing a small roller 11, which runs below the upper projecting edge 12 of the ring member.

When the fodder has been deposited in the ring memberB at a level beneath the upper edge of said ring member, the compression roller 7 passes over the silage Without vany effect on the ring member. However, when a further quantity of silage is discharged into the space enclosed by the ring member B, the compression roller 7 tends to rise because of the additional thickness of silage deposited thereunder, and consequently it will cause lifting of the arm 10 as well as the small roller 11 connected to the latter. The roller 11 is maintained in engagement against a projecting rim provided completely around the upper edge 12 of ring member B so that said ring member will be carried upwardly together with the compression roller 7.

Said device 10 rises with a spiral movement together with the compressor as fodder is discharged into the ring member.

Another supporting lattice work 13, likewise fixed by means of brackets 6 to the girder 3-3a and free to accomplish longitudinal displacements along the same, carries at its lower end a compression rollerl 14.

Both the compressors 7 andll run inside and close to the ring member B, thus compressing the fodder in the peripheral zone of the heap. t

For the compression of the central zone there are provided a numberfof other rollers 15 made preferably of molded cement or any other material of suitable weight, which may be different from one another in length and diameter, but must however be such as to carry out a quite uniform compression.

These rollers 15 are supported by an iron frame comprising an axle 16, around which the compressors roll, and tie wires i-l of suitable shape and section, which are hooked in a. suitable position to the girder 3-3a.

'Reference letter E indicates a device having the form of a plow or shovel adapted to pick up the fodder which would otherwise escape from the upper edge of the ring member B, and to lead it again under roller 7.

In this way a more uniform compression is obtained at the periphery of the heap, the external wall thereof being made quite smooth, without requiring manual labor for carrying out smoothing.

Such a plow-shaped device is fixed externally to the support 20 of the roller 7 and its shovel 19, provided with suitable guiding means 21, runs on the upper edge of the ring member B, in advance of the roller Z in the direction of the arrow x shown in Figure 2.

It will be understood that the plow-shaped device including the shovel 19 is guided by the guide member 21 and runs in advance of the compression roller 7. Arm E is rigidly connected with the bracket 10 at one end and is provided at its other end with the guide member 21, the shovel or blade 19 being connected to said guide member and preferably being arranged closely adjacent the internal edge of ring member B. Blade or shovel 19 defines a front end 19' and a rear end 19, said rear end preferably being spaced at a greater distance from said ring member than said front end. Thus an arrangement is provided for collecting silage thrust against the ring member B and directing the silage toward the roller 7 in order to effect further compression.

The operation of the system is as follows:

To carry out ensilage by means of the installation described hereinabove it is first necessary to fix the pole A to the ground at the chosen place, holding it up by means yimmediately begins to work, running around the pole.

While rollers 15 compress the central zone of the heap, rollers 7 and i4 act on the peripheral zone, rolling at the interior and close to the ring member. Podder is thus compressed as laid down into the ring member, which member gradualy rises under the effect of the lifting device 10.

A large fodder cylinder is thus obtained, the walls of which are well pressed and do not allow passage of air therethrough, thus securing a good preservation of the ensiled fodder. i

As soon as the ensilage is finished, the installation can be disassembled readily for repeating the ensilage at some other location` Ensilage eiected according to the present invention affords the following advantages over the already known systems:

(a) Eliminates the great expenses of labor required by ensilage operations in accordance with known methods;

(b) Allows a more uniform and constant compression to be obtained independently of the skillfulness of the workmen employed in the operation;

(c) Allows the compression to be varied according to necessity;

(d) Prevents waste of fodder, i. e., peripheral reject;

(e) Owing to the lifting device, permits a greater economy of labor; ensilage becomes a very simple and quick operation, while obtaining a circular and upright mound.

Various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modiiications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a device for compressing silage having a central upright supporting column; a frame rotatably mounted on said column, a ring for confining the silage in compressed form, a pair of driven and diametrically opposed peripheral compression rollers for the' silage and operating within said ring, deecting means carried by said frame and disposed forwardly in the direction of rotation of said frame l of at least one of said rollers and inwardly of said'ring, said deiiecting means including a guide member slidable along a portion of said ring, to thereby collect silage thrust against the upper edge of said ring during movement of said one roller and to direct the silage toward the' latter forfurther compression.

2. In a device-forcompressing silage having a central upright supporting column; a frame rotatably mounted on said column, a ring for confining the silage in compressed form, a pair of Vdriven and diametrically opposed peripheral compression rollers for the silage and operating within said ring, deflecting means carried by said frame and disposed .forwardly in the direction of rotation of said frame of at least one of said rollers and inwardly ofvsaid ring, said dellecting means being plow-shaped and including a guide member slidable along the upper edge of said ring, said deilecting means being provided with a forward portion disposed closely adjacent said ring and a rear portion disposed relatively remote from said ring. Y

References Cited in the le of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,333 

